Wiley Rein’s Insurance Practice Named “Group of the Year” by Law360

February 2, 2015

Washington, DC—Wiley Rein’s Insurance Practice was named “Insurance Group of the Year” by Law360, one of only three groups recognized that represent insurers.  In selecting its winners, Law360 reviewed 683 submissions across 26 practice areas.

“It was another strong year for us,” Insurance Practice chair Daniel J. Standish told Law360.  “Our practice does well when there’s market volatility, natural catastrophes, human greed, and unfortunately those never stop.”

The publication noted the firm’s “major victory for insurers” in the Washington Mutual Inc. liquidating trust’s suit in the Delaware Supreme Court.  Partner Charles C. Lemley argued the case in which insurers faced $250 million in exposure.  Mr. Lemley’s role in the case also netted him a place on Law360’s “Insurance MVP” list for 2014. 

“We really had to master the facts, master the law and convince the Supreme Court of Delaware to do something that it rarely does, and that is reverse a trial court on a preliminary matter,” Mr. Lemley told Law360.

Law360 also recognized a summary judgement win for Starr Indemnity & Liability Co. in which the insurer was reimbursed for the defense costs associated with a security contractor’s fraud trial.  Other mentions include a win in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the representation of insurance trade groups in appellate matters.

“A number of smartest lawyers I’ve ever met are a few doors down,” Mr. Lemley said of his colleagues.  “Our clients tend to be very smart lawyers in their own right.  You can’t bring your B game, you need to know their stuff as well as our clients do.”